Islamic State militants behead missing American journalist

A Shiite fighter loyal to Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, holds a position as they back the Iraqi army in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants after re-taking control of an area in the Jurf al-Sakher district about 65 kilometres south of Baghdad on August 18, 2014. (AFP Photo /Ali Al-Saadi) / AFP

Islamic State militants have released a graphic video allegedly depicting the beheading of American photojournalist James Wright Foley, who has been missing since 2012 after being kidnapped in Syria.

Foley went missing almost two years ago while covering the
conflict in Syria as a freelance photographer. The 39-year-old
reporter was working for Agence France-Presse when he
disappeared, and his whereabouts were essentially unknown until
this recording surfaced.

His November 22nd disappearance was classified as a kidnapping by the FBI, which
stated he “was taken by an organized gang after departing
from an internet café in Binesh, Syria.”

The Islamist group also threatened to kill another American
journalist, Steven Joel Sotloff of World Affairs and Time,
stating his fate is in the hands of President Barack Obama.

In the new video, the militants proclaimed the violent act as
“a message to America” for its decision to launch
airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq, where it has made
rapid territorial conquests over the last few months.

After stating that President Obama’s decision to authorize
military action against the extremist group “effectively
[placed] America upon a slippery slope towards a new war front
against Muslims,” Foley appears kneeling beside a masked
man. He is forced to read a letter which blames the US government
for “hammering the final nail into his coffin” before
the masked man takes his life.

The family of James Foley confirmed the journalist’s death on a
webpage that had been devoted to securing his
release. His mother, Diane Foley, said in a statement that her
son "gave his life trying to expose the world to the
suffering of the Syrian people."

Sotloff’s life “depends on Obama’s next decision,” the
group claimed. Sotloff has been missing since mid-2013, and his
Twitter account indicates his last known location was Libya.

Speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, three US officials said the
video looked authentic, with two saying the victim was indeed
Foley. President Obama is expected to comment on the matter on
Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the US National Security Council confirmed it
had seen the video, but added that it's still working to
determine its authenticity.

"If genuine, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an
innocent American journalist and we express our deepest
condolences to his family and friends," NSC spokeswoman
Caitlin Hayden said.

The video’s release comes just one day after militants declared they would attack American targets
“in any place” if American airstrikes kill any of their
members. Militants said, “we will drown all of you in
blood” and flashed images of an American was beheading
during the United States’ initial invasion of Iraq.

So far, the Islamic State’s campaign through Iraq has seen
numerous reports of beheadings, including those carried out
against child victims. The group has regularly threatened
Christians and other minorities to either convert to their
radical take on Islam or die, and even forced tens of thousands
of ethnic Yazidis to flee to Sinjar Mountain with no food or
water in order to escape being executed.

The last event triggered renewed military and humanitarian action
by the United States earlier this month, and airstrikes have been
used to help Kurdish security forces beat back militant fighters
from northern Iraq. On Monday, Obama announced Iraqi and Kurdish
forces had retaken control of the Mosul Dam – Iraq’s largest, and
a key strategic landmark – marking the most significant victory
for Iraqi troops since the US became involved again.